Multi-terminal connector unit

ABSTRACT

A multi-terminal connector unit consisting of a pair of connectors formed identically with each other, and each having a male portion and a female portion formed in one body integrally with each other and capable of employing terminal plates of the same structure. Such a multi-terminal connector unit is capable of simplifying a manufacturing process and facilitating a quality control to permit such connector units to be mass-produced.

United States Patent Yamada et al. 1 Aug. 29, 1972 [54] MULTI-TERMINALCONNECTOR UNIT 3,178,674 4/1965 Scheller ..339/91 R X Inventors:Yoshiaki Kawaguchi, I Krehbiel R both of Gotenba, Japan 2,824,290 2/1958Archer et al ..339/49 R 3,173,734 3/1965 Hartwell ..339/186 M X [73]Assign-lee: Yazaki Corporation, Tokyo, Japan 3,157,448 11/1964 Crimminset al. .339/176 M X Filed2 De R 21 L 9 132 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 966,887 8/1964 Great Britain ..339/49 R 30 F r A Ii ti PriData 1 o elgn pp ca on omy Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion g g j p iAssistant Examiner-Terrell P. Lewis BC. apan Attorne .woodha ns & F] nJan. 21, 1970 Japan ..45/006109 y yn ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..339/49 R,339/91 R, 339/176 M,

v 339 ll 8 4 M A multi-ternunal connector unit consisting of a pair of[51] Int. Cl H011, 25/00 connectors formed identically with each other,and [581 mm; so m 'HI.'III.IIIIIIIIIIII.'I.'.'.'.'.'I/4M9 75 each hayinga male a female Portion 339/91 176 R 176 M 184 R 184 M formed in onebody integrally with each other and 186 M 126 65 capable of employingterminal plates of the same structure. Such a multi-terminal connectorunit is capable of simplifying a manufacturing process and [56]References Cited facilitating a quality control to permit such connectorUNITED STATES PATENTS units to be mass-produced. 3,091,746 5/1963Winkler ..339/47 R 7 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures Patented 7 Aug. 29, 19723,688,243

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Aug. 29, 1972 1 3,688,243

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 29, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

MULTI-TERMINAL CONNECTOR UNIT This invention relates to amulti-terminalconnector unit consisting of a pair of connectors formedidentically with each other, usable both as a male connecting member anda female connecting member, for connecting wires.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-terminalconnector unit consisting of a pair of connectors identical with eachother, usable both as a male connecting member and a female connectingmember and capable of employing terminal plates of the same shape,thereby to simplify a manufacturing process and facilitate a qualitycontrol, permitting a mass production of such connectors.

It is another object of the present invention to provide amulti-terminal connector unit which, when a pair of connectors areconnected to each other, is capable of contacting terminal plates, faceto face, with each other, thereby to enable a resistance to be reducedand a connection or disconnection operation to be easier.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide amulti-terminal connector unit which, when a pair of connectors areconnected to each other, is capable of automatically engaging saidconnectors with each other, thereby to keep the connected conditionsecurely against most possible vibrations.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide amulti-terminal connector unit which, when a pair of connectors areconnected to each other, is capable of forming a room for each terminalsealed up tightly and separated from each other, thereby to eliminate apossibility of an electrolysis to be caused, between adjacent terminalplates, when water enters into said connectors, in a rainy day or at atime of washing a car, thus preventing an increase in contact resistanceor temperature, burning, or a deterioration in conductivity due to acorrosion of terminal plates.

Various further and more specific objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will appear from the description given below, taken inconnection with accompanying drawings illustrating by way of examplepreferred embodiments of this invention.

According to the present invention, there is provided a multi-terminalconnector unit consisting of a pair of connectors formed identicallywith each other and adapted to be interconnected, each one of whichcomprises a female portion having a base plate with a partition formedthereon and a wall; a male portion having a base plate with a partitionformed thereon, said female and male portions being formed integrallywith each other of a mold-forming insulating material with a spacetherebetween for receiving said base plate of the confronting femaleportion of the other connector, and said male portion being adapted tobe fitted in the confronting female portion of the other connector inthe connected state; and terminal plates of the same shape employableboth in the female and the male portions, each of said terminal plateshaving a resilient contact plate and provided in each of said female andmale por tions by means of said base plate and said partition.

The invention will be better understood from the following descriptionin connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-terminal connector unit of oneembodiment of the present invention, showing only half of the unit;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same taken along line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, shown in itsconnected state;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a terminal plate employed in the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a multi-terminal connector unit ofanother embodiment of the present invention, showing only half of theunit;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same taken along line VIVI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, shown in itsconnected state;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the same;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a multi-terminal connector unit of afurther embodiment of the present in- Character A designates a connectorbody and.

character B designates a terminal plate. Said connector bodyA has afemale portion A formed projectingly at the upper portion thereof and amale portion A formed projectingly at the lower portion thereof, keepinga certain distance from said female portion A,. Said male portion A andthe female portion A are made of an insulating material, such as asynthetic resin, etc., and formed integrally with each other.

The terminal plate B is preferably made of high-conductive metals andhas, at its tail portion, a connecting portion 1 to a wire and, in frontof said connecting portion 1, a resilient contact plate 2.,Under saidresilient contact plate 2, there is formed a projection 3 cut anderected out of the terminal plate B, and on both sides of the resilientcontact plate 2 there are formed a pair of wings 4. The connectingportion 1 to a wire has, at its central portion, an edge 1a cut anderected out of the terminal plate B and, on both sides thereof, aplurality of holding members 1b edged at the top, by which a wire 5 issecurely connected to the terminal B through its insulating coating,keeping electric connection.

In the female portion A, is provideda base plate 6 which is associatedwith a wall 6 connecting to said base plate 6 to form a room R. A groove8 for receiving the terminal plate B is formed on said base plate 6 witha partition 7. Inside said groove 8, there are formed, on both lateralwalls, concaves 9 for receiving said wings 4 of the terminal plate B,and on the base plate 6, a concave 10 for receiving said projection 3 ofthe terminal B. A bulkhead l1 abutting on said partition 7 is providedin the back portion of the room R.

The male portion A has only a base plate 6 as mentioned above but nowall as denoted by numeral 6'. It is to be noted that the male portion Ais defined in a size insertible into the room R of the confrontingfemale portion A Between the female portion A and male portion A isformed a space into which the base plate 6 of the confronting femaleportion A can be inserted.

With the above-mentioned construction, the multiterminal connector unitaccording to this invention is put to use by inserting a required numberof terminal plates B in the grooves 8 of the female portion A, and themale portion A, slidably from the back. Three each of the terminalplates B may be inserted in the grooves 8 of the female portion A, andthe male portion A in the present embodiment. The terminal B is soadapted to be securely fixed in the predetermined posi tion with itswings 4 registered in the concaves 9 and with its projection 3registered in the concave 10.

For connecting a pair of the connectors to each other, one of theconnectors is turned upside down to insert its male portion A, into theconfronting female portion A, of the other connector and to receive, atthe same time, the confronting male portion A of the other connector inits female portion A,, thereby connecting the both connectors to eachother as shown in FIG. 3.

The above-embodiment may be preferably further provided a cut-outportion 12 formed at the central portion of the wall 6' of the femaleportion A,, a hook 14 movably supported by a supporting portion 13 oversaid cut-out portion 12, and a projection 15 formed on the outer surfaceof the base plate 6 of the male portion A thereby to connect a pair ofconnectors securely against most possible vibrations. The front end ofthe female portion A, is tapered off to aid an insertion of theconfronting male portion A As apparent from the foregoing description,according to the present embodiment, not only a pair of connectorsidentical with each other can be connected to each other but also theterminal plates of the same structure can be advantageously employed forboth the male portions and the female portions, thereby to facilitateand simplify a manufacturing process and a quality control.

Further according to the present embodiment, a terminal plate insertedin one of the connectors is adapted to contact, face to face, with theconfronting terminal plate of the other connector when two connectorsare connected to each other, thereby to reduce a contact resistance andincrease a current capacity which are preferable for a large current.

Still further according to the present embodiment, the hook is adaptedto get over the projection and automatically engage with it, at a timeof the connection of the connectors and said hook is readily releasedfrom said projection only by pushing the hook, at a time ofdisconnection, owing to a cut-out portion formed on the female portion,a hook swingably supported over said cut-out portion and a projectionformed on the outer surface of a male portion.

Referring now to FIG. 4 and FIGS. through 8 showing another embodimentof the present invention, there is provided a multi-terminal connectorunit consisting of a pair of connectors formed identically with eachother and adapted to be interconnected, each one of which comprises afemale portion having a base plate with a partition formed thereon and awall; a male portion having a base plate with a partition formedthereon, said female and male portions being formed integrally with eachother of a moldforming insulating material with a space, therebetweenlongitudinally receiving said base plate of the confronting femaleportion of the other connector, and said male portion being adapted tobe fitted in the confronting female portion of the other connector inthe connected state;

and terminal plates of the same shape employable both in the female andthe male portions, each of said terminal plates having a resilientcontact plate and provided in each of said female and male portions bymeans of said base plate and said partition, wherein said partition onthe base plate of either of the female and the male portion has aprotuberance longitudinally formed thereon and having a triangular shapein its section, said protuberance being adapted to contact with thepartition of the confronting female or male portion to form a closet foreach terminal plate, thereby enabling the terminal plates to beperfectly separated from one another.

Character A designates a connector body and character B designates aterminal plate. Said connector body A has a female portion A, formedprojectingly at the upper portion thereof and a male portion A formedprojectingly at the lower portion thereof, keeping a certain distancefrom said female portion A,. Said male portion A, and the female portionA, are made of an insulating material, such as a synthetic resin, etc.,and formed integrally with each other.

The terminal plate B is preferably made of high-com ductive metals andhas, at its tail portion, a connecting portion 1 to a wire and, in frontof said connecting portion 1, a resilient contact plate 2. Under saidresilient contact plate 2, there is formed a projection 3 cut anderected out of the terminal plate B, on both sides of the resilientcontact plate 2 there are formed a pair of wings 4. The connectingportion 1 to a wire has, at its central portion, an edge la cut anderected out of the terminal plate B and, on both sides thereof, aplurality of holding members 1b edged at the top, by whichia wire 5 issecurely connected to the terminal B through its insulating coating,keeping electric connection.

In the female portion A, is provided a base plate 6 which is associatedwith a wall 6' connectingto said base plate 6 to form a room R. A groove8 for receiving the terminal plate B is formed on said base plate 6 witha partition 7. Inside said groove 8, there are formed, on both lateralwalls, concaves 9 for receiving said wings 4 of the terminal plate B,and on the base plate 6, a concave 10 for receiving said projection 3 ofthe terminal plate B. A bulkhead l1 abutting on said partition 7 isprovided in the back portion of the room R.

The male portion A has only a base portion 6 as mentioned above but nowall as denoted by numeral 6'. It is to be noted that the male portion Ais defined in a size insertible into the room R of the confrontingfemale portion A,. Between the female portion A and the male portion Ais formed a space into which the base plate 6 of the confronting femaleportion A, can be inserted.

In the female portion A, there are provided a cut-out portion 12 at thecentral portion of the wall 6' and a hook l4 movably supported by asupporting portion 13 over said cut-out portion 12. While, in the maleportion A there is provided a projection 15 on the outer surface of thebase portion thereof.

The front end of the female portion A, is tapered off to aid aninsertion of the confronting male portion A,.

Numeral 16 designates a protuberance having a triangular shape in itssection and formed longitudinally on the partition 7 of either male orfemale portion A, or A,. In the connected state of the connectors, saidprotuberance 16 is adapted to contact with the confronting partition 7of the female portion A of the confronting connector, thereby to form acloset for each terminal plate, tightly sealed up and perfectlyseparated from other terminal plates.

With the above-mentioned construction, the multiterminal connector unitaccording to this invention is put to use by inserting number ofterminal plates B in the grooves 8 of the female portion A, and the maleportion A, slidably from the back. Three each of the terminal plates Bmay be inserted in the grooves 8 of the female portion A, and the maleportion A in the present embodiment. The terminal plate B is so adaptedto be securely fixed in the predetermined position with its wings 4registered in the concaves 9 and with its projection 3 resistored in theconcave 10.

For connecting a pair of the connectors to each other, one of theconnectors is turned upside down to insert its male portion A into theconfronting female portion A, of the other connector and to receive, atthe same time, the confronting male portion A of the other connector inits female portion A,, thereby connecting the both connectors to eachother. At this time, the hook 14 gets over the projection 15 which ispositioned in the cut-out portion 12 and engaged with said projection 13to secure the connection of said connectors.

As apparent from the foregoing description, according to the presentembodiment, the protuberance formed longitudinally on the partition ofeither male portion or female portion is adapted to contact with theconfronting partition when a pair of connectors are connected to eachother, thereby to form a closet for each terminal plate, tightly sealedup and perfectly separated from other terminal plates, thus preventing apossible electrolysis between adjacent terminal plates and a corrosionof the terminal plates due to penetration of water.

Referring now to FIG. 4 and FIGS. 9 to 11 showing a further embodimentof the present invention, there is provided a multiterminal connectorunit consisting of a pair of connectors formed identically with eachother and adapted to be interconnected, each one of which comprises afemale portion having a base plate with a partition formed thereon and awall; a male portion having a base plate with a partition formedthereon, said female and male portions being formed integrally with eachother of a mold-forming insulating material with a space therebetweenfor receiving said base plate of the confronting female portion of theother connector, and said male portion being adapted to be fitted in theconfronting female portion of the other connector in the connectedstate; and terminal plates of the same shape employable both in thefemale and the male portions, each of said terminal plates having aresilient contact plate and provided in each of said female and maleportions by means of said base plate and said partition, wherein saidfemale portion has on its outer surface a convexed portion provided witha hollow therethrough and a cut-out portion, and said male portion hason its outer surface a projection with a size forcibly passable throughsaid hollow of the convexed portion, thereby ensuring a secureconnection of said pair of connectors to each other.

Character A designates a connector body and character B designates aterminal plate. Said connector body A has a female portion A, formedprojectingly at the upper portion thereof and a male portion A, formedprojectingly at the lower portion thereof, keeping a certain distancefrom said female portion A,. Said male portion A and the female portionA, are made of an insulating material, such as synthetic resin, etc.,and formed integrally with each other.

The terminal plate B is preferably made of high-conductive metals andhas, at its tail portion, a connecting portion 1 to a wire and, in frontof said connecting portion 1, a resilient contact plate 2. Under saidresilient contact plate 2, there is formed a projection 3 cut anderected out of the terminal plate B, and a pair of wings 4 are formed onboth sides of the resilient contact plate 2. The connecting portion 1 toa wire has, at its central portion, an edge la cut and erected out ofthe terminal plate B and, on both sides thereof, a plurality of holdingmembers 1b edged at the top, by which a wire 5 is securely connected tothe terminal B through its insulating coating, keeping electricconnection.

In the female portion A, is provided a base plate 6 which is associatedwith a wall 6' connecting to said base plate 6 to form a room R. Agroove 8 for receiving the terminal plate B is formed on said base plate6 with a partition 7. Inside said groove 8, there are formed, on bothlateral walls, concaves 9 for receiving said wings 4 of the terminal B,and on the base plate 6, a concave 10 for receiving said projection 3 ofthe terminal B. A bulkhead 11 abutting on said partition 7 is providedin the back portion of the room R.

The male portion A, has only a base plate 6 as mentioned above but nowall as denoted by numeral 6'. It is to be noted that the male portionA, is defined in a size insertible into the room R of the confrontingfemale portion A Between the female portion A, and male portion A, isformed a space into which the base plate 6 of the confronting femaleportion A, can be inserted.

On the outer surface of the wall 6' of the female portion A,, there isformed a hollow convexed portion 17, in which a cut-out portion 18 isformed in its backward end. In contrast, on the outer surface of thebase plate 6 of the male portion A,, there is formed a projection 19having tapered faces on its front and rear ends.

The forward end of the female portion A, is tapered off for facilitatinginsertion of the confronting male portion A With the above-mentionedconstruction, the multiterminal connector unit according tothisinvention is put to use by inserting a required number of tenninalplates B in the grooves 8 of the female portion A, and the male portionA slidably from the back. Three each of the terminal plates B may beinserted in the grooves 8 of the female portion A, and the male portionA, in the present embodiment. The terminal B is so adapted to besecurely fixed in the predetermined position with its wings 4 registeredin the concaves 9 and with its projection 3 resistered in the concave10.

On this occasion, the projection 19 of the one connector is forced topass through the hollow convexed portion 17 of the other connector tomake an appearance in the cut-out portion 18 and firmly engaged in saidcut-out portion to keep a sure connection of the both connectors freefrom an unreasonable detachment.

As apparent from the foregoing description, in this embodiment of thepresent invention, there is provided the hollow convexed portion 17 onthe upper surface of the female portion and the projection 19 on theouter surface of the male portion having a size forcibly passablethrough said hollow convexed portion 17 to engage therewith, therebysecurely connecting the pair of connectors with each other. Accordingly,the pair of connectors can be easily released from the engaged state byforcing disengaging the projection 19 from the hollow convexed portion17.

What is claimed is:

l. A multi-terminal connector unit consisting of a pair of connectorsformed identically with each other and adapted to be interconnected;

each connector including first wall means defining a female portionhaving a base plate with a partition formed thereon and second wallmeans defining a male portion having a base plate with a partitionformed thereon;

said female and male portions of each connector being formed integrallywith each other of a moldforming insulating material with a spacetherebetween for receiving said base plate of the confronting femaleportion of the other connector and said male portion being adapted to befitted in the confronting female portion of the other connector in theconnected state; and

terminal plates of the same shape separately mounted in both the femaleand the male portions of each connector, each of said terminal plateshaving a resilient contact plate and being positioned in each of saidfemale and male portions of each connector by means of said base plateand said partition, whereby the terminal plates positioned in the femaleand male portions of the one connector respectively engage the terminalplates positioned in the male and female portions of the other connectorwhen said connectors are interconnected.

2. A multi-terminal connector unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein eachsaid female portion of said pair of connectors has an identical cut-outportion formed at the central portion of its wall and a hook movablysupported over said cut-out portion, and wherein each said male portionof said pair of connectors has an identical projection on its outersurface, thereby ensuring a secure connection of said pair of connectorsto each other.

3. A multi-terminal connector unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidpartition on the base plate of the male portion divides same into atleast two recesses each having one of said terminal plates positionedtherein, wherein said partition on the base plate of the female portiondivides same into at least two recesses each having one of said terminalplates positioned therein, and wherein said partition on the base plateof either of the female and the male portion has a protuberancelongitudinally formed thereon and having a triangular shape in itssection, said protuberance being adapted to contact with the partitionof the confronting female or male portion to form a closed space foreach pair of contacting terminal plates, thereby enabling the adjacentpairs of contacting terminal plates to be perfectly separated from oneanother.

4. A multi-terminal connector unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein saidfemale portions of said pair of connectors have on their outer surfacesidentical convexed portions provided with a hollow therethrough and acut-out portion, and wherein said male portions of said pair ofconnectors have on their outer surfaces identical projections with asize forcibly passable through said hollow of the convexed portion,thereby ensuring a secure connection of said pair of connectors to eachother.

5. A multi-terminal connector unit comprising a pair of substantiallyidentical connectors adapted to be interconnected to one another, eachsaid connector including:

first wall means defining a blocklike base portion;

second wall means integrally connected to said first wall means anddefining a socketlike female portion projecting outwardly from said baseportion and having recess means formed therein;

said second wall means including partition means projecting at leastpartway into said recess means resulting in the formation of a pluralityof elongated channel-like grooves disposed in side-byside relationship;

third wall means integrally connected to said first wall means andprojecting outwardly therefrom and defining a male portion which issubstantially parallel to but laterally spaced from said female portion,said male portion having a cross-sectional configuration compatable withand similar to the cross-sectional configuration of the recess meansformed in said female portion, whereby the male portion of one connectoris insertable into the female portion of another connector which isidentical to said one connector;

said male portion having a recess therein which opens sidewardly in adirection toward said female portion, and said third wall meansincluding partition means projecting into said recess and dividing sameinto a plurality of elongated channel-like grooves disposed inside-by-side relationship, whereby the grooves of said male portion aresubstantially parallel with but spaced from the grooves of said femaleportion; and

a plurality of substantially identical terminal plates each having aresilient contact portion, one of said terminal plates beingstationarily positioned within each of the grooves of said femaleportion, and one of said terminal plates being stationarily positionedin each of the grooves of said male portion; whereby the plurality ofterminal plates disposed within the grooves of the female portion ofsaid one connector resiliently engage the terminal plates disposedwithin the grooves of the male portion of said other connector, andsimultaneously the terminal plates disposed within the grooves of themale portion of said one connector resiliently engage the terminalplates disposed within the grooves of the female portion of said otherconnector.

6. A connector unit according to claim 5, wherein the partition means asformed on the male and female portions of said one connector are sizedto sealingly engage the partition means formed on the female and maleportions, respectively, of said other connector for totally separatingand isolating the adjacent side-byside grooves from one another whensaid pair of connectors are interconnected.

7. A connector unit according to claim 5, wherein the base portion ofeach connector includes first opening means extending therethrough andcommunicating

1. A multi-terminal connector unit consisting of a pair of connectorsformed identically with each other and adapted to be interconnected;each connector including first wall means defining a female portionhaving a base plate with a partition formed thereon and second wallmeans defining a male portion having a base plate with a partitionformed thereon; said female and male portions of each connector beingformed integrally with each other of a mold-forming insulating materialwith a space therebetween for receiving said base plate of theconfronting female portion of the other connector, and said male portionbeing adaptEd to be fitted in the confronting female portion of theother connector in the connected state; and terminal plates of the sameshape separately mounted in both the female and the male portions ofeach connector, each of said terminal plates having a resilient contactplate and being positioned in each of said female and male portions ofeach connector by means of said base plate and said partition, wherebythe terminal plates positioned in the female and male portions of theone connector respectively engage the terminal plates positioned in themale and female portions of the other connector when said connectors areinterconnected.
 2. A multi-terminal connector unit as claimed in claim1, wherein each said female portion of said pair of connectors has anidentical cut-out portion formed at the central portion of its wall anda hook movably supported over said cut-out portion, and wherein eachsaid male portion of said pair of connectors has an identical projectionon its outer surface, thereby ensuring a secure connection of said pairof connectors to each other.
 3. A multi-terminal connector unit asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said partition on the base plate of the maleportion divides same into at least two recesses each having one of saidterminal plates positioned therein, wherein said partition on the baseplate of the female portion divides same into at least two recesses eachhaving one of said terminal plates positioned therein, and wherein saidpartition on the base plate of either of the female and the male portionhas a protuberance longitudinally formed thereon and having a triangularshape in its section, said protuberance being adapted to contact withthe partition of the confronting female or male portion to form a closedspace for each pair of contacting terminal plates, thereby enabling theadjacent pairs of contacting terminal plates to be perfectly separatedfrom one another.
 4. A multi-terminal connector unit as claimed in claim3, wherein said female portions of said pair of connectors have on theirouter surfaces identical convexed portions provided with a hollowtherethrough and a cut-out portion, and wherein said male portions ofsaid pair of connectors have on their outer surfaces identicalprojections with a size forcibly passable through said hollow of theconvexed portion, thereby ensuring a secure connection of said pair ofconnectors to each other.
 5. A multi-terminal connector unit comprisinga pair of substantially identical connectors adapted to beinterconnected to one another, each said connector including: first wallmeans defining a blocklike base portion; second wall means integrallyconnected to said first wall means and defining a socketlike femaleportion projecting outwardly from said base portion and having recessmeans formed therein; said second wall means including partition meansprojecting at least partway into said recess means resulting in theformation of a plurality of elongated channel-like grooves disposed inside-by-side relationship; third wall means integrally connected to saidfirst wall means and projecting outwardly therefrom and defining a maleportion which is substantially parallel to but laterally spaced fromsaid female portion, said male portion having a cross-sectionalconfiguration compatable with and similar to the cross-sectionalconfiguration of the recess means formed in said female portion, wherebythe male portion of one connector is insertable into the female portionof another connector which is identical to said one connector; said maleportion having a recess therein which opens sidewardly in a directiontoward said female portion, and said third wall means includingpartition means projecting into said recess and dividing same into aplurality of elongated channel-like grooves disposed in side-by-siderelationship, whereby the grooves of said male portion are substantiallyparallel with but spaced from the grooves of said female portion; and apluralitY of substantially identical terminal plates each having aresilient contact portion, one of said terminal plates beingstationarily positioned within each of the grooves of said femaleportion, and one of said terminal plates being stationarily positionedin each of the grooves of said male portion; whereby the plurality ofterminal plates disposed within the grooves of the female portion ofsaid one connector resiliently engage the terminal plates disposedwithin the grooves of the male portion of said other connector, andsimultaneously the terminal plates disposed within the grooves of themale portion of said one connector resiliently engage the terminalplates disposed within the grooves of the female portion of said otherconnector.
 6. A connector unit according to claim 5, wherein thepartition means as formed on the male and female portions of said oneconnector are sized to sealingly engage the partition means formed onthe female and male portions, respectively, of said other connector fortotally separating and isolating the adjacent side-by-side grooves fromone another when said pair of connectors are interconnected.
 7. Aconnector unit according to claim 5, wherein the base portion of eachconnector includes first opening means extending therethrough andcommunicating with the recess means formed in said female portion, theterminal plates disposed within the grooves of said female portionprojecting into said first opening means and being adapted to beconnected to electrical wires, and said base portion including secondopening means extending therethrough and spaced from said first openingmeans, said second opening means communicating with the recess formed insaid male portion, the terminal plates disposed within the grooves ofsaid male portion projecting into said second opening means and beingadapted for connection to electrical wires.